ASHLAND — Infrastructure near one of Ashland’s welcome mats is in need of repair.
The bridge over Interstate 71, which allows US-250 travelers to drive above the interstate, is due for repairs and preventative maintenance Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said Tuesday.
The pier columns which hold up the US-250 bridge will be the focus of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s efforts.
Miller said concrete is beginning to chip and flake off the columns, so ODOT would like to make improvements to these areas in the near future.
Ashland lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously authorized the mayor to enter into a consent agreement with ODOT for the described work. Anytime ODOT needs to complete work within city limits, the department is required to request a consent agreement from the city.
There is no cost to the city for the planned repairs. No additional maintenance is planned for the bridge other than the column work.
However, Miller did say Ashland has had conversations with ODOT regarding the city’s desire to freshen some of the paint on parts of the bridge — including the script “Ashland” spelled out over the bridge.
“We’ve never been particularly fond of the white color that was originally used and if you’ve noticed, all of it is starting to show rust,” he said. “They have granted us permission to do it.
“They say they have no problem with us doing it. But the challenge is now securing a contractor to do it because that work will have to be done over the highway beneath.”
Due to the nature of working above I-71, Miller said there are a “lot of hoops to jump through,” such as closing traffic in certain lanes.
“It will not be an inexpensive proposition nor will it be an easy one because for the time that it’s being painted it will actually involve trimming down the traffic flow on I-71,” the mayor said.
The potential project will be brought to council at some point before any action would proceed, Miller said.
Given its location, this particular area serves as a primary gateway into the community.
In fact, the mayor said that portion of the interchange is the most highly-trafficked entryway into Ashland County. He added the Goasis travel center and gas station, at 715 US-250 in Ashland, was visited by more than 1.2 million people in the past year.
“That’s more than a million visitors that are getting to know Ashland through whatever they see when they get off for the short time there at that interchange,” Miller said.
“That is why even though we joke about making it look good, it is the gateway into the community, so eventually we’ll bring you that legislation.”
